Boeing Veterans - Dr Brendan Nelson President of Boeing Australia

This is Part 3. of the Boeing Veterans series and features Dr Brendan Nelson AO - President Boeing Australia New Zealand and South Pacific. Dr Nelson commenced his career as a medical doctor in Tasmania and was elected President of the Australian Medical Association before moving onto senior roles in government and public life. These included Leader of the Opposition, Minister for Defence, and Ambassador to NATO Belgium Luxembourg and the EU. Brendan served for 7 years as Director of the Australian War Memorial before joining Boeing. In 2018 RSL conferred Honorary Life Membership upon Dr Nelson for his services to and support of veterans and ex-service organisations.

In this episode we examine Brendan's long connection to Defence Force personnel and veterans, commencing from his upbringing surrounded by family stories of service from World War 1. Brendan discusses his career and path to senior leadership, and his diplomatic post where he developed an even deeper connection to Australian World War I history and sacrifices.

We discuss the modern period of conflict from September 11 2001 onwards, and the growth of ANZAC day as a national symbol of meaning amid the heightened position of our Defence Force in the national consciousness. Brendan covers the growth of Australian defence industry in supporting the ADF and the close co-operation that defines the current relationship between the ADF and the range of defence industry participants.

We touch on the development of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (Loyal Wingman) Australia's first locally designed combat aircraft in more than 50 years, as a combined effort of 35 Australian companies.

Brendan discusses the future focus on career flexibility and movement of people between Defence and industry, and the recent Afghanistan evacuation as an example of this model in practice.

Brendan discusses the values, culture and experience that Defence veterans bring to employers and the extraordinary efforts of small to medium size veteran owned business in mentoring and guiding former serving members into meaningful employment as recognised by the Prime Minister's Veterans Awards.

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Link to Boeing Veterans

https://www.boeing.com.au/boeing-in-australia/community/veterans.page

Dr Brendan Nelson

https://www.boeing.com/company/key-orgs/boeing-international/brendan-nelson.page

Prime Ministers Veterans Employment & Awards

https://www.veteransemployment.gov.au